Registers



July 7, 1959 P. H. ALLEN Erm. 2,893,632.

` REGIsTERs 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 original Fild Jan. 11, 194e mma .9.3.

P. H. ALLEN ETAL `I uly 7, 1959 REGISTERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l: INVENTORSUs Urginal Filed Jan. 11, 1946 Jlly 7 1959 P. H. ALLEN Erm. A2,893,632

REGISTERS original Filed Jan. 11. 194e 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 una. Q ...oz

M QFL ...oz

July 7 1959 P. H. ALLEN ETAL 2,893,632

REGISTERS riginal Filed Jan. 11, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Ann;

United States PatentY gf Philiplfl.-V Allen,-Los-Gatos, Calif., andBenjaminl. Chromy, Washington, D.C.

Original applicationlanuary 11, 1946-, Serial No. 640,464, nowPatent-"Nm 2,727,683, dated December 20, 1955. yDividedrand. thisapplication December 16,- 1955, Se` riab No. .553,639F

12` Claims. (Cl: 265-92) The Ypresent invention relates to registers"and is con-v cerned' more particularly with the provisions of improvedadding and ca1culating apparatus employing electronic devices.

This.l applcationis. a" division of .our application Serial No.. 640,464tiled January 1F1, 1946, now Patent. No; 2,272,683, for Registers..

Itisza general. object o'f thef invention ltoprovide improved'reg'is'tering apparatus of-fultra high' speed operating.`characteristics;v

Anotherigeneraliobject of! the invention is to provide registering.apparatus includingY an' improvedv` register em-` ploying gaseous or;other-'electric dischargedevices in the various orders; thereof.

Another. object of'the inventionIis to provid'eimproved registering!vapparatus: wherein thermionic dischargev de= vices aree-employed' ini`registering: values:-

f Another object;of-.theinvention is to provide improvedregisteringapparatus wherein: light sensitive or responsive means isemployed in.` effecting` registry of' values;

Another object of the: invention is to'provide' animprovedfcounting;deviceremploying thermionic tubes and light sensitiveor responsive tubes -ory cells-r associated therewith in eectingacounting operation.

Other objects andadvantages of tlie invention will be apparentfr'omthe:followingdescription of certainv preferred-embodimentsthereof asillustrated' inth'eldr'a'wings, in; which:

Figure 1- is-ial.wiringrdiagramofith'e units order of the: accumulatorregister.v

Figure.V Z-is' similar.' tozFigure l but-shows th'ef10?s\ order oftheregister.

Figure 3.5 is similarzto; Figure al but il'lustratesa modii'ed vform. ofthe invention.

Figure 4 is .a..fragmentarycwiring 'diagramf of another modification.'

Figure- 5isa.'fragmentary'wiring diagram illustrating azfurthermodicationoffthe register circuit; and

Figure 6". is arfragmentary wiring diagram of still another modicationof an ordinal circuit.-

Generally, the invention-comprises electronic register ing 'apparatusinwhich the .register or accumulator cornprisesordinalsetsofA electricdischarge devices so an ranged and related that successive electricalimpulses or differentially-timed; electrical signals applied to thevari# ous orders `thereof willvreslult; in' step bystep registeringofthe pulses` as increments, so that the-registercan'be 2,893,632Pfanne# f'vr 7,1259

, 2' w'ifllerriite, scheelite,l zinc sulphide or the like. A smallamount ofniercury is provided in the inside of eachv of these envelopesfor the purpose of generating ultraviolet radiations when the respectivetubes are 'red oi' triggered by suitbleelectrical pulses applied toltheA grids thereof, t'he* aforesaid ultraviolet radiations` beingemployed to bombar'd the fluorescent `coatii'ig's inside of thetriggered tubes and the lluor'es'ce'ntcoatings" caused tov lluc'nesce.lThe uorescentlight is employed to enablethe various` tubes of thevregfi'ster'as''will be apparent from' further paragraphs'of thisdescription andit is" of course obvious that ins'teadof this fluorescentlight, the light' produced by-an ionizedgas may be used; In ythis casethe thermioni tub'es ofthe registers need not be provided withfluorescent coating as described above' but the envelopesV thereof maysimply be `tille'd with a'suitable atmosphere of ine'rt gas, such as,ne'on', argon,- helium, krypton', zenon or'nitrog'en or suitablemixturesy thereof with or Without asmall drop'of mercury afte'r the airis evacuated from theenvelopes; A

The input terminals 59l and' 60 are Aconnected to the inputs' of all'ofVthe-tubesv- 55, 56, 57 and 581 so that an employedin. adding,subtracting, multiplying anddividing electric pulse from the -lightsensitive tubes'17 and4 18 is applied through these terminals to' theaforesaid input circuits. Eachl of the' thermionic tubes 55,l 56, 57-and 58 is Vshun'tedbyl a; light sensitive tube or cell 61, 62, 63 and64, respectively, and light sensitive tubes or cells 65, 66, 67 and 68are connected iii sei-ies with the thermionic tubes;:56,1`5 7 and 58;respectively? Likewise, the gloW-*tubesf' 69, 70j 71* andf72v areyconnectedv inA series with* the lights'ensitive tube'sfor'cell's 65;-66,67 and 68, respectively# Theseglo'w tubes'69, 70, 71 and72 may beprovided with iluorescent coatings therein as described aboveinfth'cases of'thermion'ic tubes'SS, 56, 57 and'58, ors theymay'besimplyfilled' withan inert gas or gases' so that they will'eitherores'ce orglow whenfthey are energizedt" The-tube 58is the zero tube,`tube57`is`the No. l

tube and this is'followedf'bythe No. 2,--No: 3, No. 4, Nol.1 5,.No. 6-and No. 7 tubesY (notI shown); The No: 7 tube* is 'followedby' the' tube56"'which is'the No: 8 tube@ and this isfiollowed` by'tbe 55 which istheNo.` l9 tube. While only four therhiionictubes, 55 lthrough 58` areshown in Figure 1, it will be understood that tensuch tubesrepresentingthe values 0 through 9., inclusive, areprovided-ineach'ordinal register circuit' and the 'c'orarespondingnumbers are` appliedto the glow discharge tubes-69, 70, 71and' 72fso that lthe-mm'iber corresponding to' the tube-tiring isilluminated "and displayed.

The-grids-ofthe tubes 58; 57, 56 and'55 lareconnected tolthe'inp'utterminal 60v through capacitors 158, 157,I 156 and 155, respectively,and thecathodesof these tubes are all-connected to the-inputterininal`59, the aforesaid termi-nals-f59A and-60-being connected 'togetherv by ahigh resistance resistor 590. Gridleakresistors 258, 257, 256 and 255;;are' connected betweenthe-control' grids and cathodesof thetubes 58,57,56 and55, respectively. Resistors 358, 357, 356 and ,355 are connectedacross the tubes'SS, 57, 56l and- 55, respectively, and these resistorsarejshunted by *thev` light sensitive or responsive tubes or'cells 64,63, 62 and 61, respectively.

4As previouslydescribed, light sensitive tubesor.y cells 68, `6'7, 66and 65, shunted'by resistors 168, 167, 166 and, 165, respectively, v areconnected in'seri'es 'with the outputs of the tubes 58, 57,v 5 6 and 55,respectively; Glow discharge ork gasy tubes y72, 71, 70 and 69, shuntedby resistors '172i 171'; 17'0and169,`respectively,'are connectedinseries'f'withfthe light" sensitive tubes 5 or cells 68;"67, 66 and65,'re'spectively These'glovv'discharge tubes-'72,y 71,'. 70 and V69'are1a1so"shuntd`"by -Ry-C net? works' consisting of resistors'fand`lcapacitors lconncted'il sexies across the respective glow dischargetubes. These R-C networks function to stabilize the circuit and preventtransient impulses. Thus variable resistors 272, 271, 270 and 269 areconnected in series with capacitors 372, 371, 370 and 369, respectively,and these series connected elements are in turn connected across theglow discharge tubes 72, 71, 70 and 69, respectively.

The register shown in Figure 2 constitutes the tens order of theregister or totalizer and is identical with Figure l except for theaddition of carry control elements conditioned by carry impulses fromthe terminals 90 and 91 of Figure l. The Figure 2 embodiment consists ofa plurality of tubes, such as tubes 55a, 56a, 57a and 58a, which areidentical to the tubes 55, 56, 57 and 58 shown in the register ofFigure 1. 'Ihis register also includes additional tubes which are notshown, the same as the register illustrated in Figure l, and the tubes55a, 56a, 57a and 58a may be designated as the No. 9 tube, No. 8 tube,No. 1 tube and the "0 tube, respectively, the same as correspondingtubes in Figure 1. The same or similar circuit elements are associatedwith the tubes 55a, 56a, 57a and 58a, as are associated with thecorresponding tubes shown in Figure 1 and like elements of Figures 1 and2 are designated by like reference numerals except that the referencenumerals employed in Figure 2 each have the letter "a as a suffix.

The different orders 10, 110, 210, 310 and 410 of the register areprovided with positive anode battery terminals 92, 92a, 92h, 92e, 92dand 92e, respectively.

Transfer circuit The register circuit of Figure 1 is provided with atransfer circuit in the output of the No. 9 tube, that is, tube 55, fortens transfer purpose, whereby tens transfer pulses are fed to the inputterminals 59a and 60a of the circuit shown in Figure 2.

This transfer circuit consists of a transformer 455 (Figure 1) havingthe primary thereof connected in series with the anode of the tube 55and the tube output circuit. The secondary of the transformer 455 isconnected to terminals' 90 and 91. A tens transfer switch or key 855 isconnected in series with the rectier 555, the capacitor 755 and lightsensitive tube or cell 955. Furthermore, the capacitor 755 is connectedin series with the aforesaid light sensitive tube or cell 955 across apair of output terminals 856 and 956, and these in turn are connected tothe terminals 59a and 60a, respectively, of 'Figure 2.l

Thus, a tens transfer pulse occasioned by the extinguishing of the No. 9tube 55 will serve to charge the capacitor 755, the rectifier S55serving to prevent charging of this capacitor upon initial firing of thetube S5. Subsequently, when the light sensitive cell or tube 95S isrendered conducting or active by a light ray from the selectionmechanism 16 as disclosed in our Patent No. 2,727,683, the capacitor 755will be discharged. A tens transfer pulse is accordingly fed to theinput terminals 59a and 60a of Figure 2 as outlined above, whereby atens transfer pulse may be impressed upon the output or grid circuit ofany one of the register tubes 58a, 57a, 56a or 55a of Figure 2,depending upon which of these tubes is conditioned to receive the pulse.

Similarly, the No. 9 tube, that is, tube 55a of the register 110 shownin Figure 2 is provided in the output circuit thereof with a tenstransfer circuit coupled to the output of this tube by means of thetransformer 455a. The secondary of this transformer is connected to theeach order. At the same time, the transfer circuits are momentarilydisabled to prevent false tripping of a tens transfer during the valueerasing operation. Depression of the resetting control key 14 (Figure 7)results in iirst opening the switch 855 ,(Figure 2), thereby preventingfalse tripping of a tens transfer, and thereafter opening the switch 13etc. for momentarily disabling all the register tubes.

The terminals 95-96 are connected to a small light and the primary of atransformer, such as the light 97 and the transformer 98 shown inFigure 1. The light 97 is positioned to energize the light sensitivecell or tube 68, as shown in Figure l, and the secondary of thetransformer 98 is connected between a second control grid and thecathode of the 0 tube 58.

When the light sensitive cell or tube 68 is energized by the light 97,the circuit of the zero tube 58 is conditionedfor operation sinceenergizing this light sensitive cell or tube greatly reduces theresistance of this cell or tube and increases the plate voltage appliedto the plate of the tube 58 from a battery connected to the terminal 92and the conductor associated therewith. At

. the same time as the plate voltage applied to the tube 58 is increasedin this fashion, the voltage applied across theV glow lamp 72 isincreased but not suiciently to ionize the gas in this glow lamp.However, a positive voltage pulse is applied to the auxiliary controlgrid of the tube 58 with respect to the cathode of this tube from thesecondary of the transformer 98 since this transformer is connected to asuitable battery 15 and key 14 and this pulse tires the tube 58 therebyincreasing the current through this tube suiciently to ignite or ionizethe gas of the glow lamp 72. ionization of the glow lamp 72 illuminatesthe character 0 associated therewith. Accordingly, the 0 tube 58 andassociated glow lamp 72 of the register 10 and corresponding "0 tubesand associated glow lamps in each of a plurality of registers areconditioned for operation when a voltage is applied to the terminals 95and 96 and the glow lamps associated with the 0 tubes cause each of theregisters to indicate zeros.

Register operation With the 0 tube of the ordinal circuits in tiringcondition, an impulse fed to the input terminals 59--60 of the register10, for example, will tire the No. l tube 57 since the light from theignited "0 tube 58, being directed to the light sensitive tube or cell67, connected in series with this tube 57, has conditioned the platecircuit of this tube for firing of the tube. The electric pulse appliedbetween the grid and cathode of the tube 57 therefore renders this tubeconductive or substantially increases its conductivity and the increasedplate current ionizes the glow tube 71 which is associated with thecharacter l of the register 1l) and illuminates this character.Simultaneously the light from the ionized gas of the tube 57 or thelight from the fluorescent coating provided in this tube, is directed tothe quenching light sensiterminals 90a and 91a which are connected tothe transfer circuit leading to the next register order.

Resettng or 0 tube conditioning circuit In order to effect resetting ofthe accumulator, means is provided to erase any yalues displayed in thevarious orders thereof by momentarily disabling all the register tubes,and for subsequently enabling the "0 tubes of tive tube or cell 64,connected from the plate to` the cathode of the 0 tube 58. Thisquenching tube or cell 64 and other similar tubes or cells 63, 62 and 61in the register 10 and similar tubes or cells in registers 110, 210,310, 410 and 510 may be resistance type light responsive cells adaptedto decrease in resistance by a substantial factor when illuminated orthey may be gas type light sensitive tubes the gases in which areionized by the potentials across them when the tubes are illuminated.Therefore, when the quenching cell or tube 64 is illuminated itfunctions because of its greatly lowered resistance to shunt thethermionic tube 58 and bleed ofi the current owing through the tube 58with the result that the tube 58 does not receive sufiicient current tomaintainits ionized condition and is quenched. Y Y

As described above, the glow discharge from the tube 58 illuminates thelight sensitive tube or cell 67 and primes the thermionic tube 57 sothat a pulse applied to 'asse-,ssa

theterminals59 and 60 is received by the i-l Vtube 57 and ytires orrenders this .tube conductive. The-light from the glow `discharge `ofthis tube 57- is receivedb-y the quenching tube'or cell 64 -ofthethermionic tube 58 nso that the latter tube is quenched. Light fromthe-tube 57 is also received by the light sensitive tube'or cell whichprimes the No. 2 tube (not shown) connected to this tube in the samemanner as the light sensitive celll or tube 67 is connected to the No. 1tube 57. Likewise, when a second pulse energizes the No. 2 tube the-glow discharge from this Atubel energizes the light sensitive quenching-tube or cell 63 whichfunctions as a quenching circuit for the tube 57and also-primes the circuit of the No. 3 tube so that the third pulsereceived by the input circuit is applied to the input of the No. 3thermionic tube. Successive pulses applied to the'input terminals 59 and60 will cause the No. 4, No. 5, No. 6, No. 7, No. 8 and No. 9 tubes tofire or become conductive successively and the light from the No. 4 tubefunctions to quench the No. 3, that from the No. 5 tube quenches theNo.4 tube, the light from theNo. 6 tube quenches the No. 5 tube, the'lightfrom `the No. 7 tube quenches the No. 6 tube, the light from the No. 8tube 56 quenches the No. 7 tube, and the light from theNo. 9 tube-'55falls on the cell or tube 62 to quench the tube 56 and the; light fromthe No. 9 tube 55 also falls on the tube or cell 68 of the "0 tube 58 toenable this O tube for reception of the next pulse applied to theterminals 59 `and, 60.

Operation of transfer y,circuit The transfer circuit-11 connectedthrough terminals 93-and A14-to the terminals 90 and-9.1 of the register10 functions when the No. 9 tube 55 is quenched as a result of the inputcircuit of the register 1,0 receiving a tenth pulse, to apply a pulse tothe input circuit of the next higher order register 110. The transfercircuit 11 receifves the pulse from the transformer 455 andvstores thispulse in the capacitor 755 for application to the input of the nexthigher order register 110. The rectifier 555 is connected in such mannerthat only the decaying current in the primary of the transformer 455induces an E.M.F. into the secondary of this transformer of the properpolarity to pass a current through the rectier 555 and charge thecapacitor 755.- Thus this capacitor 755 is charged when the No. 9 tube55 is quenched, that is, when the current through the primary ofthetransformer 455y decays. However, if the No. 9 tube 55 is energized whenthe resetting key 14 is operated to recondition the circuit.

or set it to vzero no transfer impulse will be stored because,

the switch 855 is opened to disable the transfer circuit: before theswitch 13 is opened so that the capacitor 755 is `not charged at thistime.

Register in which separate glow tubes are eliminated With the provisionof fluorescent coatings inside of theregister thyratrons or `thermionicdevices 55, 56, 57 and 53 of Figure 1, 55u,y 56a, 57a and 58a of Figure2 etc., it is rapparent that the function of illumination of thelegends, numerals and the like associated withV the glow lamps 69, 70,71 and 72 of Figure 1 and` 6941,. 70a, 71aand 72a of Figure 2,respectively, may `be `per-- formed bythe register thyratrons ortherrnjonic devices- 55, 56, 57 and 58 of Figure l and,55g, 56a, 57a and58a of Figure 2, respectively, since suiicient light will be-4 given oifby these thyratrons for such illumination; These glow lamps 69, 70, 71and 72 ofFigurel and 69a, 70a, 71a and 72a of Figure 2 together with theresistors 269,. 2695i, 270, 270:1, 271, 271a, 272 and 272a`andcapacitors369, 36%, 370, 370e, 371, 371a, 372 and 372a of Figures 1 and 2 maytherefore be eliminated if desired. The platecurrent supplies for thelthyratrons in these figures may' loe-connected by shorting the glowlamps, that is, by re moving the-glow lamps completely and connectingthethyratron plate current supply directly to the anodes off -thcenabling-.lightresponsive devices 65, 165a,66,-66a, 67

67a, 68. and 68a of Figures l and2. The circuit diagram for anordinalportion of theregister of a reversible character is shown in Figure?,which is vsimilar in all respects tothe circuit of Figure4 with the.exception that provision is made for` transferred increments or pulsesduring both negative and. positive operation. A register of reversiblecharacter as referred to is fully` disclosed in our` Patent No.2,727,683.

It will be recalled in connection with the circuit shown in Figure 1that the transfer signals or pulses from one order of the register tothe next order are obtained from the decay of the currentthroughthe No.9 tube 55b, through -thetransformer ,45.5b. Similarly, for negativetransfer signals .or pulses, a transformerv 99b'is incorporated in theplate circuit of the No; 0 tube 58b to provide 4a transfer pulse upon.decay .of this circuit. Both the transformers 455b and 99b areconnected in parallel to the output terminals 90b and 91h with theprovision of respective control switches 88h and 89h, respectively, to-enable the desired transfer circuit in accordance with the ycharacterofthe operation being performed. Forexample, when the register is setfor addition, the switch till) .88h is closed and the switch 89h isopen, so that only .additive transfer pulses will be transmitted to thenext higher order register circuit. Conversely, in subtraction, theswitch 89'b is closed and the switch 88h is open so that onlysubtractive transfer pulses will be permitted during the subtractingoperation.

Modjed register circuits The register 10 consisting of the tubes 55, 56,57 and 58 may be connected as shown in Figure 1, however, modiiiedcircuit diagramsusuch as shown in Figures 4, .5 and 6 may be employed ifdesired and in each of these :figures the .elements having functionscorresponding .to theelements shown in Figure 1 are designated bycorresponding reference numerals except that .in Figure 4 the referencenumerals are provided with a suix "c, and in Figure 5, the elements areprovided with the suix d, andin Figure 6, they are provided with asuffix e. In Figure 4, two tubes 58 and 57 of the thyratron tubecorresponding to tubes 58 and 57 of Figure l are shown, whereas inFigure5 only one tube 58d corresponding to tube 58 in Figure 1, and inFigure 6 one tube 58e likewise correspondingto tube 58 of Figure 1, areshown.

Referring to Figure 4 in detail, light responsive de- `vice 68e isenergized by a suitable light source in a manner previously described inthe description of cor- :responding light sensitive devices in Figuresl, 2 and 3, :and the impedance of this light responsive device 63e isdecreased so that the current through this device, the resistors 172Cand 272e and the device 58C is increased. The potential drops acrossthese resistors are therefore increased and the charge -of the capacitor372e is also increased. The circuit of the thyratron or gas dischargetube 53C is thus enabled since the plate potential kof this tube isincreased. A positiveelectrical pulse or wave applied to the grid of thetube 53e iires or triggers this :tube and causes the potential acrossthis tube to ionize .the gas and the small quantity of mercury thereinso :that the liuorescent coating therein is energized and thefluorescent light therefrom illuminates another light responsive devicesuch as device 67e for enabling the icircuit of another thyratron 57e.At the same time the iiuorescent light from the thyratron 58Cilluminates a 4quenching cell corresponding to cell 64e for quenching orextinguishing lanother thyratron that was energized prior to theenergization of thyratron 58C. With the firing of .the thyratron 58ethe-impedance thereof decreased kso that the currenttherethrough-increased and accordingly the current through the lightresponsive device 68C increased since the potential thereacrossincreased. However, the same pulse as was used to trigger the thyratron58e also triggered thegas glow tube 72C since .the trigger electrodethereof is .connected to=the..grid of the 'thyratron through the currentlimiting resistor 72x. The glow tube 72e is thus energized and caused toglow by the discharge of the capacitor-372C therethrough and by some ofthe current flowing through the thyratron 58e.

The glow tube 72e thereby illuminates the numeral char- -acter or otherlegend associated therewith.

' tron illuminates the enabling light responsive device of the thirdthyratron and the light responsive quenching device 64C associated withthyratron 58C. The light responsive quenching device 64C bleeds off thecurrent from the light responsive device 68e and the thyratron 58ethereby quenching the ionization in these devices.

In the apparatus shown in Figure 5, the tube 58d of the thyratron typeis provided with live electrodes, namely, a cathode, a control grid, asecond control grid, an anode and a cutoff grid positioned between theanode and the second control grid. The anode of the tube 58d isconnected to one terminal of the light sensitive enablingy device 68dand the other terminal of this light sensitive device is connected toone terminal of the glow lamp 72d. The other terminal of the glow lamp72d is connected to the positive husbar which is connected to theterminal 92d. The control grid of the tube 58d is con-- nected to thesignal input line coupling capacitor ISSd and to the grid resistor 258d.The auxiliary control grid of the tube 58d is connected to the secondaryof the transformer 98d, the primary of this transformer being connectedto the terminals 9S and 96. A small lamp 97d for energizing the lightsensitive device 68d is also connected to the terminals 95 and 96.

The operation of this register arrangement is similar to that of theregister arrangment shown in Figure l. However, in this case thequenching or cutoff light sensitive device 64d is connected in serieswith the entire voltf age divider consisting of the series-connectedresistors -172a', 168:1 and 358d which are connected between thepositive busbar and the cutolf grid of the tube 58d. The

cutoff grid of the tube 53d is connected to one terminal of the lightsensitive device 64d and the other terminal of this device is connectedto the cathode busbar. The

- resistor 172d is also connected across the glow lamp 72d; resistor168:1 is connected across the light sensitive device 68d and resistor35Sd is connected between the anode and cutoff grid of the tube 58d.Consequently, when the light sensitive device 64d is energized forquenching or cutoiiC purposes, the potential on the cuto grid of thetube 58d is substantially reduced so that the ionization of the gasinside of the tube Sa' is quenched. The impedance of this tube,therefore, increases imrnediately after the quenching device 64d isenergized and as a result the gas in the tube 72d is also deionized.

The function of the device 72d is the same as the function of the device72 in Figure 4 and as previously described these functions may becombined into the function of the thyratron 58d, particularly where thisthyratron is provided with a fluorescent coating therein as describedabove.

In Figure 6 the thyratron tube 58e which corresponds to the thyratrontube 58 in Figure l is provided with a cutoff electrode between thecathode and the control grid and this cutoff electrode is connected tothe anode through the light sensitive quenching device 64e. In this casewhen the light sensitive device 64e is energized the space between thecutol electrode and the anodeis shunted by a low impedance path of theenergized device 64e, and in this manner, the tube 58e is deionized.

The modified form of this register shown in Figure 6- also shows theregister circuit in which the glow lamp corresponding to the glow lamp72 has been eliminated and in this case 'the resistor 168e correspondingto the resistors 168 and 172 of Figure 4 is connected to the positivebusbar. The light sensitive enabling device 68e corresponding to thedevice 68 of Figure 4 is connected between a variable contacterassociated with the resistor 68eand oneof the terminals thereof. Thiscircuit illustrates the manner in which the components may be connectedwhen the glow lamps corresponding to glow lamp 72 of Figure 1 areeliminated. Likewise, in Figures 4 and 5 the glow lamps 72C and 72d,respectively,

may be eliminated and the function thereof incorporated in the functionsof thetubes 58C and 58d. From the above description it will be seen thatthe light from a red gaseous discharge tube will illuminate effectivelythe priming phototube for the next digitai value and also the quenchingphototube for the previously fired tube in the original series of tubes.

We claim:

l. Electrical register and computing apparatus comprising an electricaldevice lhaving a group of electric discharge paths, said paths beingdesignated as the 0, 1, and "2 paths, each of said paths including anelectric discharge device having an anode and a cathode, a lightsensitive device connected in series with each said electric dischargedevice, a second light sensitive device connected across at least a partof the discharge path of each of said electric discharge devices, acommon circuit for applying electric pulses to all of said electricdischarge devices, means for ring the electric discharge device of the Opath, said last mentioned device being adapted to produce luminousradiation to energize the light sensitive device connected in serieswith the electric discharge device of the l path so as to condition thisdischarge device pathfor firing upon the receipt of the next electricpulse by said common circuit whereby the-discharge device of said l pathis selectively tired by the said next pulse, the discharge device ofsaid l path when fired producing luminous radiation for energizing thelight sensitive device connected across the electric discharge device ofthe O path to quench the firing of this device, the luminous radiationproduced by the discharge device of said 1 path also energizing thelight sensitive device connected in series with the electric dischargedevice of the 2 path so as to condition this path for firing by tlhesecond pulse received by said common circuit, the electric dischargedevice of the 0 path having a reset electrode and means connected tosaid reset electrode for resetting the apparatus.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising resistanceelements connected across said light sensitive devices.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim .2 further comprising gas dischargedevices connected in series with each of the electric discharge devices,each of said gas discharge devices having a number associated therewithand said number being adapted to be illuminated when the correspondinggas discharge device is tired.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 further characterized in that saidgas discharge device includes a iiring electrode and means forconnecting said tiring electrode to said common circuit.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that saidelectric discharge devices are each provided with a cutoff electrode andmeans for connecting said second light sensitive device associated witheach of said electric discharge devices between the cutoff elec- -trodeand another electrode of the associated electric discharge device.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 further characterized in that saidother electrode is the cathode of the respective electric dischargedevices.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said other electrode isthe anode of the respective electric discharge device in each case.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a variableresistance connected across each of the light sensitive devices that areconnected in series with the anodes of each oct the electric dischargedevices.

9. In an electronic calculating apparatus, a plurality of electricdischarge devices, connections for connecting said electric dischargedevices into a series having means for ring said devices in sequence toplace a value therein, a gas indicator tube for each of said electricdischarge devices, each indicator tube having a triggering electrode,each triggering electrode being connected to the means for firing saiddevices in sequence, whereby said gas indicator ltubes are iired in lthesame sequence, means for removing any value standing in said series,means for resetting said series, said last mentioned means including anauxiliary grid electrode in one of said devices.

10. In an electronic calculating apparatus, a plurality of electricdischarge devices, connections for connecting said electric dischargedevices into a series having means for ring said devices in sequence, agas indicator tube for each of said electric discharge devices, eachindicator tube having a triggering electrode, each triggering electrodebeing connected to the means for firing said devices in sequence,whereby said gas indicator tubes are fired in the same sequence, meansfor resetting said se ries, said last mentioned means including anauxiliary grid electrode and means for energizing said electrode toreset the apparatus.

11. In an electronic calculating apparatus, a plurality of electricdischarge devices, connections for connecting said electric dischargedevices into a series having means for ring said devices in sequence, agas indicator tube for each of said electric discharge devices, eachindicator tube having a triggering electrode, each triggering electrodebeing connected to the means for ring said devices in sequence, wherebysaid gas indicator tubes are 10 red in the same sequence, one of saiddevices having means tor resetting said series, said last mentionedmeans including a resetting electrode, and means for energizing saidelectrode to reset the apparatus.

12. In an electronic calculating apparatus, a plurality of electricdischarge devices, connections for connecting said electric dischargedevices into a series in which said devices yare designated as the 0 and"1 devices, said devices having means for the firing thereof insequence, a gas indicator tube for each of said electric dischargedevices, each indicator Atube having a triggering electrode, eachtriggering electrode being connected to the means for firing saiddevices in sequence, whereby said gas indicator tubes are iired in thesame sequence, said device designated as the "0 device having anauxiliary grid electrode.

References Cited in the fle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,995,890 Lord Mar. 29, 1935 2,156,969 Bryce May 2, 1939 2,176,720Rayner et al. Oct. 17, 1939 2,219,676 Barber Oct. 29, 1940 2,234,832Potts Mar. 11, 1941 2,295,000 Morse Sept. 8, 1942 2,310,105 Michel Feb.2, 1943 2,398,771 Compton Apr. 23, 1946 2,401,621 Desch etal. June 4,1946 2,402,988 Dickinson July 2, 1946 2,426,278 Mumma Aug. 26, 19472,442,428 Mumma June 1, 1948 2,484,115 Palmer et al. Oct. 11, 19492,495,075 Mnmma Jan. 17, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 502,560 Great Britain Mar.20, 1939 521,871 Great Britain June 3, 1940

